Asif says Centre, KP united against terror as NA erupts in chaos

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said the federal government and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration were now “on the same page” in the fight against terrorism, acknowledging improved coordination between Islamabad, the province and the armed forces.

Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Asif said the KP government was now “standing firmly with the Centre and the armed forces against terrorism”, adding that national unity against militancy was a positive development.

The minister’s remarks came in response to an emotional speech by Noor Alam Khan, who criticised both the federal and provincial governments over the deteriorating security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the suffering of residents affected by terrorist violence.

Asif maintained that terrorism was a national issue requiring joint efforts from all provinces, not just the Centre, while highlighting the sacrifices made by security personnel in recent attacks, including the deadly assault on a police post in Bannu.

Rejecting calls for fresh talks with Kabul, the defence minister said Pakistan had already held extensive negotiations with the Afghan Taliban government through multiple channels, including meetings in Kabul, Turkiye and Qatar, but without tangible results.

“We pleaded with them to stop supporting terrorists and dismantle their camps, but no solution emerged,” he said, adding that Afghan authorities were unwilling to provide written guarantees that Pakistani soil would not be targeted from across the border.

Asif reiterated Islamabad’s longstanding allegation that anti-Pakistan militant groups were operating from Afghan territory with Indian backing, claiming Afghanistan was acting as a “proxy” in a broader campaign against Pakistan.

“If they are not ready for cooperation, then only one option remains,” he warned, cautioning that continued cross-border militancy could lead to open confrontation.

The minister’s remarks followed Pakistan’s recent diplomatic protest to Kabul over the May 10 suicide attack in Bannu that killed 15 police personnel amid a broader resurgence in militancy since the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

The National Assembly session later descended into chaos after Asif accused Noor Alam Khan of promoting ethnic divisions, triggering a heated exchange with PTI lawmakers, including Iqbal Afridi and Junaid Akbar.

The confrontation quickly escalated into shouting, abusive exchanges and near-physical scuffles among opposition members, forcing Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah to adjourn the session as sergeants-at-arms intervened to restore order.